It is a disgrace that Arsenal are not playing today

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Morning from sunny Norway!

Arsenal should have been playing Chelsea today in the evening kick off.

My plan was to arrive back in the UK at around 2pm, landing into Heathrow. Get straight on the Piccadilly Line to Holloway Road and be in The George by about 3:30pm. Pint in hand.

Leave my bag behind the bar, head to the game, then return to a few more beers after and pick up my bag. Instead, I am flying back and heading home.

The rumours that the game was being moved due to the Youth Cup Final never made sense.

As we revealed, the rules of the FA Youth Cup were that the game had to be scheduled BEFORE 29 April (today), and not on 29 April.

FA Youth Cup games are traditionally played mid-week, and as it transpired the game against West Ham was announced for Tuesday 25 April.

Preperation for the King’s Coronation also made little sense.

Moving a game closer to the Coronation of King Charles III surely disrupts the preperation more than having the game a week before. Likewise, if football was so disruptive then why are Crystal Palace hosting West Ham, Brentford hosting Nottingham Forset

In the lower leagues, Charlton are at home to Port Vale, Wimbledon against Tranmere, Leyton Orient host Stockport County and Barnet facing Dagenham and Redbridge.

Then tomorrow we have Fulham at home to Manchester City.

If the Arsenal game has been moved due to policing issues, then why are all of these games still going ahead?

You then have this rule that has appeared that London’s Metropolitan Police do not want “high risk” games to kick off in London after 4:45pm at weekends.

Earlier this season, around 600 Manchester United tickets were cancelled for their game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

This was on police advice, with the Met saying the 5:30 p.m. start time heightened the risk rating of the game:

“The agreement in place between the Met and London clubs is that fixtures assessed as high risk should start before 16:45 at weekends to help keep people safe.”

If this is true, why were Sky allowed to pick Arsenal v Chelsea for their 5:30pm TV game at the end of March? Why then did the same get moved to Tuesday, rather than moved back to 3pm – or even 4:45pm? Why was the game not moved to a lunchtime kick off? Or why was it not moved to tomorrow? why did the police change their mind after OK’ing the game? And why did this take them 12 days?

It just shows once again that no one really cares about fans that go to games. Despite all the hyperboil after the European Super League announcement.

The only reason the game was moved to Tuesday rather than back to 3pm was for Sky scheduling. So that they could still show the game. It shows that they value their scheduling over and above match going fans. Gary Neville has been silent on the matter.

If the 4:45pm “rule” is real, then TV companies should know about it. And Sky should not be allowed to host London home games at this time. If they do pick this time and the police demand it is moved, the game should go back to 3pm.

Nothing has changed since the European Super League. The TV companies have shown time and again that they do not care about match going fans. And all they cared about was that they could be on the outside looking in when it came to ESL broadcasting rights.

I am about to jump on the plane. See you tomorrow!

Keenos

This is the start of something special for The Arsenal

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Champions League football secured for the first time in 6 seasons.

On course for 80+ points for just the 6th time in our history.

Likely to score over 80 goals for the first time since 2010.

Already with more wins since 2008, and could end up winning as many games as the invincibles.

First season in 6 where our defeats will be in single figures.

And finished above Spurs for the first time in 6 seasons.

We have made so much progress this season and do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

When we won the FA Cup in Mikel Arteta’s first season, those anti-fans said they wanted to see us in a title race and not winning the greatest domestic trophy in the world.

This season we have been in a title race, and those same fellas complain that we are going to finish the season trophyless.

Those people like to say they have “high standards” but the truth is they do not want Arsenal to win the league. They do not want to see a successful Gunners.

They celebrate when we fail to win, and moan when we are winning. We are not the only club with this weird group of football incels.

As Rodney Marsh said, Manchester City would have beaten any team in the world the way they played on Wednesday.

And it is interesting that we seem to be getting more criticism than City are getting praise. That is because Arsenal failing to win creates more hits, clocks and ad revenue than City winning.

Whether you like how they have built a team, built Manchester, or not, you have to admit they have a superb team.

City will make it 5 league titles in the last 6 seasons. They will get over 90 points for the 4th time during that period.

They have a fella up top that is ripping up the Premier League goal scoring records. At the back they have the choice of four £50m central defenders.

Mid-week they had a £45m CM on the bench, a recent Premier League POTY on the bench, and one of England’s best players on the bench.

Their squad shows exactly what £850m can get you (compared to £470m for us).

Man City’s wage bill is twice ours. So of course they are going to have better players on the pitch and in reserve.

Their strength in depth has meant come the business end of the season their players are still fresh. Their rotations allows them to do that. Likewise as they picked up injuries, they could replace one £50m CB with another.

We had to rely on £2m Rob Holding.

I said Wednesday night, swap Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola over and the result does not change.

Arteta with City wins the league. Guardiola with Arsenal finishes second.

We now need to make sure this season is the start of something and not the peak.

The age of our side, players will naturally improve. But we also need to make moves in the transfer market.

Declan Rice is one of those players who would close squad depth gap between us and City.

His acquisition would add quality to our first team, which in turn would provide a greater strength in depth. Moises Caicedo would do similar.

We also need to bring in a new right sided central defender.

Holding has been a brilliant servant to the club, but now is the time we need to upgrade. Close that quality gap between him and William Saliba.

And then we need reinforcements in attack.

Either an out and out striker which will lead Gabriel Jesus to become a wide attacking option, or a wide right midfielder that will also provide cover for Jesus up top. I really like Ansu Fati.

City will of course strengthen again this summer. I think it will be Jude Bellingham.

My final thoughts is to not let finishing 2nd get you down. We have done exceptional this season. And now we just have to build on it.

Keenos

MATCH REPORT: Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal

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Manchester City (2) 4 Arsenal (0) 1

Premier League

Etihad Stadium, Ashton New Road, Manchester M11 3FF

Wednesday, 26th April 2023. Kick-off time: 8.00pm

(4-3-3) Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhães, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Martin Ødegaard (c), Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli.

Substitutes: Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith-Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Jakob Kiwior, Leandro Trossard, (Jorge Luiz Frello Filho) Jorginho, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Matt Turner.

Scorers: Rob Holding (86 mins)

Yellow Cards: Thomas Partey

Arsenal Possession Percentage: 48%

Referee: Michael Oliver

Assistant Referees: Stuart Burt, Ian Hussin

Fourth Official: Craig Pawson

VAR Team at Stockley Park: VAR David Coote; AVAR Eddie Smart

Attendance: 51,694

At last the day has arrived for the most eagerly awaited Premiership match of the season. Although it is not a “Premiership Decider” as some elements of the press would have us believe, the result tonight could certainly go a long way as to who lifts the trophy at the end of May.

We kicked off proceedings tonight at the Etihad Stadium, and the home side charged at us quickly with Kevin de Bruyne whipping in a cross that Aaron Ramsdale grabbed out of the air. Shortly afterwards, Aaron Ramsdale palmed out a Jack Grealish cross; Kevin de Bruyne charged in to try and follow-up and was sent tumbling by a tackle from Thomas Partey. The referee gave us a free-kick, despite appeals from the City players for a penalty. In the seventh minute, the home side took the lead when Erling Haaland held the ball up and sent a neat little pass into the path of Kevin de Bruyne, who took the ball to the edge of the box, away from Rob Holding and then fired a low shot past Aaron Ramsdale and into the bottom corner of the net. In the period after the goal was scored, the home side put us under pressure, with Jack Grealish and Kevin de Bruyne looking for gaps in our defence. Although our passing was good, we just could not seem to find a way out of our half for any sustained period of time. Somehow we have to find a way to break through the vice-like grip the home side have on the match at this moment in time. This could be a long night for us. We had a free-kick awarded to us on the edge of the City box after twenty-three minutes, but although Granit Xhaka’s chip found the head of Gabriel, his header went nowhere. A couple of minutes later, Kevin de Bruyne nearly got his second goal of the night when Erling Haaland played a clever ball through the middle for him, but fortunately Ben White managed to block his shot at the last minute to prevent what seemed to be a certain goal by the home side. On the half-hour, Aaron Ramsdale got down well to stick out a hand out and deflect an Erling Haaland shot away from goal and shortly afterwards, another Erling Haaland effort was pushed away by Aaron Ramsdale, thankfully. Ten minutes from half-time, a Thomas Partey shot went inches wide of the target, and again almost imediately afterwards a series of clever moves by Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish found Erling Haaland, whose strong shot went inches wide of Aaron Ramsdale’s right hand post. Three minutes before the break, we were awarded a corner, which Bukayo Saka duly took, but it went nowhere after goalkeeper Ederson punched the ball clear. In injury time, John Stones headed the ball into the back of our net, but it was cancelled out at first for offside, but after an inquiry by the VAR team, it was given. After an incident between Ruben Dias and Ben White (in which the City man was booked), to our relief, referee Michael Oliver blew the whistle for half-time.

Seconds after the restart, Kevin de Bruyne nearly scored when Bernardo Silva chipped a ball to him, but he could not connect with a volley; shortly afterwards, the ball was pulled back to Granit Xhaka on the edge of the penalty area, but he could only curl a weak shot straight at Ederson, who saved it easily. Aaron Ramsdale made a great save with his feet from Erling Haaland (again) and a little while later, Kevin de Bruyne scored the third City goal of the night when he was played through nicely by Erling Haaland (again). Jorginho and Leandro Trossard replaced Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka after an hour, and it really made no difference, as the home side still went on the hunt for yet more goals. We look outnumbered in midfield, and everyone looks flat footed here tonight. We were fortunate not to get away with another goal conceeded when Ilkay Gundogan had a clear chance to score, but thankfully high and wide. Arsenal were just passing the ball around, unable to find a way through the City midfield, and with twenty minutes of the match remaining, our captain (Martin Ødegaard) made way for Emile Smith-Rowe. Thomas Partey received a yellow card after an incident with Jack Grealish, and with twelve minutes of the match remaining (after a Bukayo Saka free-kick that went nowhere) Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah replaced Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka in order for us to try and get something out of this match tonight. Eddie Nketiah almost scored after being found on the edge of the box by fellow sub Reiss Nelson; he fired an angled shot that flew across the goal and past the far post. With four minutes of the match remaining, from a corner, Leandro Trossard set up Rob Holding to fire in a superb effort for us to get a goal back. In the five minutes injury time, almost to add insult to injury Erling Haaland scored City’s fourth goal with literally seconds of the game remaining. 

It was City’s match from the start to the finish here at the Etihad tonight. We may well have got forty-eight per cent possession out of this game, but that was all. We were outclassed, outplayed, and there were times that we looked like rabbits caught in the headlights. All in all, a very disappointing evening for everyone concerned. But, we are still top of the Premiership, and there are still matches to be played and points to be won and lost in the next month for both teams. Although it does look extremely bleak at the moment, there is still a chance to win the Premiership, despite the fact that City have games in hand. But they have to win those, and strange things can happen with a Premiership run-in. Start praying everyone.

Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as this season is going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Our next match: Chelsea at the Emirates on Tuesday, 2nd May at 8.00pm (Premier League). Be there, if you can. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon